Orangemen have been taking health and safety courses on carrying ceremonial swords during parades.

The training carried out at several lodges also includes lessons on marshalling at marches and the carrying of banners.

Orangemen in North Antrim received health and safety sessions in recent months as Northern Ireland enters the height of the marching season.

An Orangeman who was among those trained told Belfast Live: “It was two nights of health and safety lessons.

“Part of the training was how to handle the swords, making sure you don’t take your eye out or injure somebody else by accident.

“To be honest it was common sense stuff but I suppose that’s the world we live in now.

“A few of the men had a laugh at being trained in carrying swords but they took it all on board. As a whole it was pretty useful.”

An Orange Order spokesman said the institution always ensured members’ safety was paramount as well as that of supporters lining the streets during marches.

He added: “Specialist training is often made available to members at the discretion of individual lodges.

“Indeed, it is not unusual for training professionals or companies to offer advice and guidance on matters including health and safety and very often stewarding of parades.

“We cannot comment on individual health and safety issues but the Orange institution takes its obligations seriously in this regard.”

There were calls for ceremonial swords to be banned during Orange parades after police were attacked during clashes on the Twelfth in 2013.

The Police Federation, the union which represents almost 7,000 rank-and-file officers, said a review should be carried out into the regalia after 3ft swords were swung at police.

Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr posed with a riot helmet with a large dent across the top of it.

He revealed it had taken the full force of an attack with a sword.

At the time a Federation spokesman added the damage which can be caused by them is “pretty obvious” and called for a rethink over their use.

He said: “Obviously if the swords are going to be used in a potentially lethal way the whole argument for being purely ceremonial needs to be reviewed. The justification for their retention needs to be reviewed.”

Last October an Orange Order member who attacked a policeman with a sword during a riot was handed a three-year sentence.

Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey said they were also used as weapons during rioting in North Belfast in 2005.